Preview The Left-handed Embroiderer's Companion: A Step-by-step Stitch Dictionary By Yvette Stanton 1t431g

left-handed embroiderer’s companion

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contents Hand embroidery needles .............6 Starting a thread ...........................7 Finishing a thread .........................7 Antwerp edging stitch...................8 Armenian edging stitch.................9 Back stitch ..................................10 Basque stitch...............................15 Braid edging stitch......................16 Breton stitch ...............................17 Bonnet stitch ..............................18 Bullion knot ...............................18 Buttonhole stitch ........................21 Cable stitch.................................34 Cable chain stitch .......................35 Cable plait stitch.........................38 Cast on stitch..............................39 Ceylon stitch...............................41 Chain stitch ................................43 Chevron stitch ............................59 Chinese knot ..............................62 Colonial knot..............................63 Coral knot stitch.........................64 Couching....................................66 Cretan stitch ...............................70 Cross stitch .................................72 Diamond stitch...........................79 Diamond upright stitch ..............80 Drizzle stitch...............................81 Eyelets.........................................82 Feather stitch ..............................85 Florentine stitch..........................90 Fly stitch.....................................91 Four-sided stitch .........................93 French knot ................................94 Glove stitch.................................95 Gobelin stitch .............................96 Hedebo stitch .............................97 Hem stitch..................................98 Herringbone stitch....................100

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Hollie stitch ..............................105 Jessica stitch ..............................106 Long and short stitch................107 Loop stitch................................109 Montenegrin stitch ...................110 Mountmellick stitch..................112 Mountmellick thorn stitch........113 Needlewoven bars .....................114 Norwich stitch ..........................115 Nun stitch ................................116 Palestrina stitch.........................117 Parma stitch ..............................119 Pearl stitch ................................120 Pin stitch ..................................121 Plaited braid stitch....................122 Queen stitch .............................124 Raised fishbone stitch ...............125 Rhodes stitch ............................126 Rope stitch................................128 Rosette stitch ............................128 Running stitch ..........................129 Satin stitch................................132 Scottish stitch ...........................137 Scroll stitch...............................138 Seed stitch.................................139 Sheaf filling stitch .....................140 Shisha stitch..............................141 Smockers’ knot .........................142 Split stitch.................................143 Spider web stitch ......................144 Stem stitch................................146 Tent stitch.................................150 Thorn stitch..............................151 Trellis stitch ..............................152 Turkey work..............................155 Vandyke stitch ..........................156 Wheat ear stitch........................157 Woven picot .............................158 Index ........................................159

chain stitch

Chain stitch is usually a linear stitch, but can also be used as a filling or for padding under other stitches. There are many variations of chain stitch. Also known as tambour stitch and point de chainette.

1 Use one guide line. Bring the thread out on the line. From the left, insert the needle at the same point and bring it out again further along the line. Loop the thread underneath the needle point.

2 Pull the needle through. From the left, insert the needle into the first chain, on the line where the thread emerges. Bring the needle point back out again further along the line and take the thread under it.

3 Repeat to build up a line of chain stitches. To finish, anchor the final chain by taking a short stitch over its end.

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For right-handers, the method is flipped, and worked right to left.

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starting a new thread

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1 To finish a thread, take a short stitch over the last chain. Fasten the thread at the back of the stitching.

2 Fasten the new thread. Bring the needle out in the last chain. Continue stitching.

turning a sharp corner

1 To turn a sharp corner without a break in the stitching, work up to the corner and take a short stitch over the end to finish off. Bring the needle out in the last chain.

2 Insert the needle in the chain, and bring the needle out again, a stitch length along. Loop the thread under the needle point.

3 Pull the needle through, and continue stitching.

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twisted chain stitch

1 Use one guide. Bring the thread out on the line. Insert the needle just below where the thread emerges. Bring it out on the line a little further along to the right. Take the thread down across the needle and then up behind the needle point.

A simple chain variation, which can be used in a line or singly.

2 Pull the needle through to gently tighten the twisted chain.

3 Using the same needle angle and stitch length as before, insert the needle outside the previous chain, just below where the thread emerges. Bring the needle out on the line. Take the thread down across the needle and up behind the needle point.

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4 Continue in the same manner. To finish, take a short stitch over the last chain.

Right-handers work this stitch from right to left.

Twisted chains can also be worked singly, and scattered in a pattern or randomly, to create a powdered filling.

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alternating twisted chain stitch

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1 Bring the thread out on the line. Insert the needle just below where the thread emerges. Bring it out on the line a little further along to the right. Take the thread down across the needle and then up behind the needle point.

2 Pull the needle through to gently tighten the twisted chain.

3 Using the same stitch length as before, insert the needle outside the previous chain, above where the thread emerges. Bring the needle out on the line. Take the thread up across the needle then down behind the needle point. right-handed

4 Pull the needle through. Insert the needle just below where the thread emerges. Bring it out on the line. Take the thread down across the needle and up behind the needle point. 44

5 Continue in the same manner, alternating from side to side for each subsequent stitch. To finish, take a short stitch over the last chain.

Right-handers work this stitch from right to left.

rice stitch

Also known as crossed corners stitch, crossed corners cross stitch and William and Mary stitch. Use a tapestry needle.

1 Bring the thread out. Insert the needle four threads right and below, bringing it out four threads above.

2 Pull the needle through. Insert it four threads left and down. Bring it in the middle of the bottom side.

3 Pull the needle through. Insert it in the middle of the left, bringing it out in the middle of the right side.

4 Pull the needle through. Insert it in the bottom middle. Bring it out in the middle of the top side.

5 Pull the needle through. Take the needle to the back in the middle of the right side.

6 Pull the needle through. Bring it out in the middle left. Take the thread to the back in the middle top.

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7 The completed rice stitch.

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Right-handers work this stitch in mirror image.

When worked turned 45 degrees, it is called diagonal rice stitch.

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as a filling stitch

1 Bring the thread out. Insert the needle four threads right and below, bringing it out four threads above.

2 Moving right, continue working half crosses to fill the required space.

3 Work back to complete the crosses. Bring the needle out in the bottom middle.

4 In the same way as above, cross the first cross’s corners. Bring the needle out centre bottom of the next cross.

5 Continue in the same way to cross the corners of the entire row.

The two layers can be worked in different colours and thicknesses of thread.

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scottish stitch Scottish stitch has squares of diagonal stitches, consisting of five stitches over three by three fabric threads. Use a tapestry needle.

1 Bring the needle out. Insert it one thread down and left. Bring it out again two threads right and one up.

2 Pull the needle through. Insert it two threads down and left. Bring it out three threads right and two up.

3 Pull the needle through. Insert it three threads down and left. Bring it out three threads right and two up.

4 Pull the needle through. Insert it two threads down and left. Bring it out two threads right and one up.

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5 Pull the needle through. Insert it one thread down and left. Bring it out two threads right and three up.

6 Pull the needle through. Insert it one thread down and left. Bring it out again two threads right and one up.

8 Turn the work 180 degrees. Pull the needle through. Insert it one thread down and left. Bring it out again two thread right and one up.

9 Continue in the same way to build up a line of stitching. To start the next row, insert the needle to finish the last stitch of the row and bring it out three threads down.

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7 Continue in the same way to build up a line of stitching. To start the next row, insert the needle to finish the last stitch of the row and bring it out three threads down.

10 Turn the work 180 degrees. Pull the needle through. Insert it one thread down and left. Bring it out again two thread right and one up.

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11 Continue in the same way to complete the row of stitches.

Right-handers work this stitch rotated 180 degrees.

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index Algerian eyelet stitch 84 alternating chain stitch 53 alternating twisted chain stitch 44 antique hem stitch 99 antique stitch 69 Antwerp edging stitch 8 appliqué 121 Armenian edging stitch 9 arrowhead stitch 76 Assisi embroidery 131 back stitch 7, 10–14, 134, 139, 143 double 11 interlaced 13 isolated 139 split 7, 134, 143 threaded 12 whipped 12 zigzagging 10 back stitched spider’s web 144 bargello stitch 90 bargello work 90 basketweave tent stitch 150 Basque stitch 15 basting 129 Berlin stitch 72 between needle 6 blanket stitch 22 knotted 8 Bokhara couching 68 bonnet stitch 18 braid edging stitch 16 braid stitch 38 plaited 122–123 Brazilian embroidery 39, 40, 81 Breton stitch 17 briar stitch 85 brick stitch 107 broad chain stitch 54 bull’s head stitch 91 bullion knot 18–20 bullion loop 20 bullion stitch 18–20 Burden stitch 67, 130 couched 67 running 130 buttonhole bars 32 buttonhole eyelet 25 buttonhole filling with return 30 buttonhole picot 33 buttonhole stitch 21–33 closed 22 crossed 23 knotted 24 slanted 87 spaced 22–23 tailor’s 27 up and down 28 whipped 26 buttonhole wheel 25

cable chain stitch 35–37 stepped 36 zigzagging 37 cable plait stitch 38 overcast 38 cable stitch 34 double 34 candlewick embroidery 63 canvas stitch 150 cast on stitch 39–40 double 40 catch stitch 100 caterpillar stitch 18 centipede stitch 109 Ceylon stitch 41–42 chain stitch 35–37, 43–58, 89 broad 54 cable 35–37 chequered 53 crested 58 detached 46–47 double 50 feathered 57 heavy 54–55 Hungarian braided 55 interlaced 49 knotted 52 magic 53 open 50 Roman 50 rosette 51 square 50 stepped cable 36 tail 46 threaded 48 twisted 44 twisted zigzag 89 vandyke 45 whipped 48 zigzagging 45 zigzagging cable 37 chain stitch padding 135 chained cross stitch 73 chained feather stitch 57 chenille needle 6 chequered chain stitch 53 chevron stitch 59–61 closed 59 half 60 pagoda 60 raised 61 chiara stitch 131 Chinese knot 62 closed buttonhole stitch 22 closed chevron stitch 59 closed feather stitch 88 closed herringbone stitch 100 coil stitch 18 colonial knot 63 continental stitch 150 coral knot stitch 64–65 zigzagging 65

coral stitch 64, 88 double 86 single 85 Spanish 58 tied 117 cordonnet stitch 129 couched Burden stitch 67 couched trellis 66 couching 66–69 Bokhara 68 Roumanian 69 counted eyelets 83 crested chain stitch 58 Cretan catch stitch 70 Cretan stitch 70–71, 87, 101 catch 70 knotted 71 laced 101 slanting 87 crewel needle 6 crewel stitch 146 cross stitch 72–78 chained 73 crossed corners 78 Danish 72 double 73 English 72 half 72 Italian 76–77 Italian two-sided 76–77 long-armed 75 long-legged 75 Montenegrin 110–111 plaited 74 Russian 100 Smyrna 73 woven 74 crossed buttonhole stitch 23 crossed corners cross stitch 78 crossed corners stitch 78 cushion stitch 90, 150 cut eyelets 82–83 daisy stitch 46 damask stitch 132 Danish cross stitch 72 darner needle 6 Deerfield embroidery 69, 101 Deerfield herringbone stitch 101 detached chain stitch 46–47 diagonal Montenegrin stitch 111 diagonal rice stitch 78 diagonal tent stitch 150 diamond stitch 79 diamond upright stitch 80 double back stitch 11

double cable stitch 34 double cast on stitch 40 double chain stitch 50 double coral stitch 86 double cross stitch 73 double feather stitch 86 double herringbone stitch method one 102 method two 103 double knot stitch 117 double Pekinese stitch 14 double running stitch 131 double seed stitch 139 drizzle stitch 81 edging Antwerp 8 Armenian 9 braid 16 embroidery needle 6 embroidery stitch 107 encroaching Gobelin stitch 96 encroaching slanted Gobelin stitch 96 English cross stitch 72 eyelets 25, 82–84 Algerian 84 buttonhole 25 counted 83 cut 82–83 faggot filling stitch 140 fancy buttonhole filling 31 feather stitch 57, 85–89 chained 57 closed 88 double 86 long-armed 87 single 87 Spanish knotted 89 upright 88 feather work 107 feathered chain stitch 57 figure of eight 38 knot 63 figure stitch 69 fishbone stitch 125 flame stitch 90 Florentine stitch 90 Florentine work 90 fly stitch 91–92 four-sided openwork stitch 93 four-sided stitch 93 French dots 94 French glove stitch 95 French knot 94 Ghiordes knot 155 glove stitch 95 Gobelin stitch 96 gros point 72 grub knot 18

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half chevron stitch 60 half cross stitch 72 half Rhodes stitch 127 Hardanger embroidery 83, 114, 136 heavy chain stitch 54–55 hedebo embroidery 97 hedebo stitch 97 hem stitch 98–99 antique 99 herringbone ladder filling stitch 101 herringbone stitch 100–104, 125 closed 100 Deerfield 101 double 102, 103 interlaced 104 overlapping 125 threaded 100 tied 101 Holbein stitch 131 hollie point lace 105 hollie stitch 105 holy point 105 holy stitch 105 Hungarian braided chain stitch 55 Hungary stitch 90 Indian embroidery 141 Indian filling stitch 69 inside-out lazy daisy 47 interlaced back stitch 13 interlaced band 101 interlaced chain stitch 49 interlaced herringbone stitch 104 interlocking Gobelin stitch 96 Irish stitch 107 irregular long and short stitch 108 isolated back stitch 139 Italian cross stitch 76–77 Italian knot stitch 94 Italian knotted border stitch 92 Italian two-sided cross stitch 76–77 Janina stitch 69 Jessica stitch 106 Kensington outline stitch 143 kloster blocks 136 knot stitch 8, 18 coral 64–65 double 117 Italian 94 long tack 94 old English 117 Palestrina 117 reverse Palestrina 118 twisted 94 knotted blanket stitch 8

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knotted buttonhole stitch 24 knotted chain stitch 52 knotted Cretan stitch 71 knotted loop stitch 108 knotted pearl stitch 118 knotted stitch 94 laced Cretan stitch 101 ladder stitch 42 laid oriental stitch 69 lazy daisy 47 lazy daisy stitch 46–47 leaf stitch 107 leviathan stitch 73 line stitch 131 long and short stitch 107 irregular 108 long tack knot stitch 94 long-armed cross stitch 75 long-armed feather stitch 87 long-armed Palestrina stitch 117 long-legged cross stitch 75 long-tailed French knot 94 loop stitch 46, 91, 109 knotted 109 open 91 tied 46 Madeira embroidery 121 magic chain stitch 53 many-petalled lazy daisy 47 Montenegrin cross stitch 110–111 Montenegrin stitch 110–111 Mossoul stitch 100 Mountmellick embroidery 112–113 Mountmellick stitch 112 Mountmellick thorn stitch 113 needle painting 108 needles 6 back end of 6 needlepoint stitch 150 needleweaving bars 114 needlewoven bars 114 New England laid stitch 69 Norwich stitch 115 nun stitch 116 oblique Gobelin stitch 96 old English knot stitch 117 open buttonhole filling stitch 29 open chain stitch 50 open loop stitch 91 opus plumarium 107 oriental stitch 69 outline stitch 147

overcast cable plait stitch 38 overlapping herringbone stitch 125 overwrapped bullions 19 oyster stitch 51 padded satin stitch 134–135 padding 134–135 chain stitch 135 running stitch 134 satin stitch 135 split stitch 134 pagoda chevron stitch 60 Pakistani embroidery 141 Palestrina knot stitch 117 Palestrina stitch 117–118 long-armed 117 reverse 118 Parma stitch 119 pearl stitch 120 knotted 118 Pekin knot 62 Pekinese stitch 13 double 14 Persian stitch 100 petit point 150 picot stitch 46 picot buttonhole 33 Venetian 33 woven 158 pin stitch 121 pistil stitch 94 plaited braid stitch 122–123 plaited cross stitch 74 plaited Slav stitch 75 plaited stitch 100 plumage stitch 107 point de chainette 43 point de marque 72 point de sable 10 Porto Rico rose 18 Portuguese knotted stem stitch 148 Portuguese stem stitch 148 Portuguese stitch 75 post stitch 18 powdered filling 44 queen stitch 124 quilting needle 6 railway stitch 73 raised chain band 56 raised chevron stitch 61 raised fishbone stitch 125 raised stem stitch band 149 reverse chain stitch 54 reverse Palestrina knot stitch 118 Rhodes stitch 126–127 half Rhodes stitch 127

square chain stitch 50 square stitch 93, 131 stalk stitch 146 starting a new thread 7, 35, 38, 43, 85 stem stitch 146–149 Portuguese knotted 148 Portuguese 148 whipped 148 stepped cable chain stitch 36 stitching 10 straw needle 6 stroke stitch 131 tail chain stitch 46 tailor’s buttonhole stitch 27 tambour stitch 43 tapestry needle 6 tapestry shading stitch 107 tent stitch 150 tête de bœuf stitch 91 thorn stitch 151 Mountmellick 113 thread painting 108 thread ‘s’ twist 19 ‘z’ twist 19 finishing 7 starting 7, 35, 38, 43, 85 threaded back stitch 12 threaded chain stitch 48 threaded herringbone stitch 100 threaded running stitch 129 tied coral stitch 117 tied herringbone stitch 101 tied loop stitch 46 tied stitch 91 trellis filling stitch 152 trellis stitch 152 couched 66 Turkey work 155 Turkmen stitch 50 turning a corner 21, 34, 43, 110, 116, 146 twist stitch 75 twisted chain stitch 44 twisted knot stitch 94 twisted zigzag chain stitch 89 two-sided Italian stitch 76–77 two-sided line stitch 131 two-sided Montenegrin stitch 110 two-sided stroke stitch 131 up and down buttonhole stitch 28, 31 upright feather stitch 88 vandyke chain stitch 45

vandyke stitch 156 Venetian picot 33 waffle stitch 115 wheat ear stitch 157 whipped back stitch 12 whipped buttonhole stitch 26 whipped chain stitch 48 whipped running stitch 129 whipped spider web stitch 144 whipped stem stitch 148 William and Mary stitch 78 witch stitch 100 wool darner needle 6 worm stitch 18 woven cross stitch 74 woven picot 158 woven spider web stitch 145 woven spoke stitch 145 woven spot 145 woven wheel 145 ‘y’ stitch 91 yarn darner needle 6 ‘z’ twist 19 zigzagging back stitch 10 zigzagging cable chain stitch 37 zigzagging chain stitch 45 zigzagging coral knot stitch 65

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ribbed spider’s web 144 ribbed wheel 144 rice stitch 78 Rococo stitch 124 roll stitch 18 Roman chain stitch 50 Roman stitch 69 rope stitch 128 rosette chain stitch 51 rosette stitch 128 Roumanian couching 69 running stitch 129–131 double 131 threaded 129 whipped 129 running stitch padding 134 Russian cross stitch 100 Russian stitch 100 ‘s’ twist 19 sampler stitch 72 satin stitch 132–136 padded 134–135 satin stitch padding 134–135 Schwalm embroidery 64 Scottish stitch 137 scroll stitch 138 seed filling stitch 139 seed stitch 139 double 139 seeding stitch 139 shading stitch 107 shadow work 11 sharp needle 6 sheaf filling stitch 140 shisha stitch 141 silk shading 108 single coral stitch 85 single feather stitch 87 single knotted line stitch 138 slanted buttonhole stitch 87 slanted Gobelin stitch 96 slanting Cretan stitch 87 smockers’ knot 142 Smyrna cross stitch 73 Smyrna stitch 117 Sofia stitch 74–75 Sorbello stitch 118 South Kensington stitch 146 spaced buttonhole stitch 22–23 Spanish blackwork 131 Spanish coral stitch 58 Spanish knotted feather stitch 89 speckling stitch 139 spider web stitch whipped 144 woven 145 spiral trellis stitch 154 split back stitch 7, 134, 143 split stitch 143 padding 134

embroidery stitch instructions just for left-handers! Are you frustrated by right-handed embroidery instructions and having to mentally flip them, use a mirror, or substitute right for left and vice versa? This book is just for you. It will show you how to work over 170 different embroidery stitches, easily and comfortably as a left-hander. You will discover: • how easy it is to learn and master new stitches, when the instructions are written specifically for left-handers • how to work surface stitches, needlepoint and counted thread stitches, in a step-by-step format • how the stitches and their variations should look • how different stitches can be used creatively in your embroidery with colour, texture and different types of thread

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For your very own left-handed embroidery teacher, take The LeftHanded Embroiderer’s Companion home with you today!

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Yvette Stanton is a left-handed embroiderer and always has been! She therefore understands the frustration that left-handers feel with stitch instructions all being the wrong way around. “When teaching embroidery, I noticed how thrilled my lefthanded students were to have a left-handed teacher. I’ve packaged myself up in a book so that all left-handed stitchers can have their own left-handed teacher.” Yvette is the author of several books on embroidery: “Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery: Merezhka Poltavska”, “Elegant Hardanger Embroidery” and with Prue Scott, “Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature”.

www.vettycreations.com.au